Marshall Presbyterian Church
 August 22, 2021, 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Carol Ann West, Pianist

Alex and Carol Brown, Liturgists

Rev. Melissa Upchurch, Pastor

 ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME

 PRELUDE

 wELCOME  

 * CALL TO WORSHIP  

 

One:    Choose this day whom you will serve.
All:      As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

 * Opening Prayer

 * HYMN    Red Hymnal #143  This Is My Father’s World

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 If we are honest with ourselves and with you, Holy God, we can confess the many gods who have staked a claim in our hearts.  Whether it be our worship of money or power, nation or family, personal liberty or individual choice, alcohol or some other form of numbing drug, we betray you in a myriad of ways…silent prayers of confession…Have mercy on us, O God.  Turn us from the golden calves we erect in your presence.  Return us and our hearts to worship you. Amen.  

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

 

One:    In body and in soul, in life and in death, our salvation lies in the faith and the hope that we are not our own, but belong to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. In Christ, we are forgiven.  We are freed from sin.  We are given permission to begin again.

All:      Thanks be to God.  Amen! 

* Gloria Patri

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.  Amen. 

* PASSING THE PEACE 

Special MUSIC:  

HEARING AND RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

 prayer for illumination

 THE Scriptures 

Old Testament:  1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43                 Epistle:                Ephesians 6:10-20                        
 Gospel:                John 6:56-69    

One: The Word of God for the people of God!

All:      Thanks be to God!

TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES

Message                                                       Rev. Melissa Upchurch

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (From A Brief Statement of Faith – PC(USA))

We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.  The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.  The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all  ministries of the Church.  In a broken and fearful world the spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.   In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch  for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

* HYMN    Red Hymnal #403  Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation 

SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS      

PrAyers of the People AND LORD’S PRAYER

Sharing the Gifts of God   

  Offertory

 

*Doxology (ca. 1500s)

  Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

  Praise him all creatures here below;

  Praise him above, ye heavenly host;

  Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

 

*Prayer of dedication And thanksgiving

 

Almighty God, from whom all blessings flow, help us to be thankful for all your gifts.  Accept these offerings as tokens of our thanks and praise.  

Accept our commitment to serve and worship you as our lived response of gratitude.  Amen 

GOING FORTH IN GOD’S NAME

 

* HYMN    Red Hymnal #526        The Solid Rock 

* INVITATION 

* CHARGE 

* BENEDICTION  

* POSTLUDE